The exclusion of agricultural students from vital financial supports is unacceptable and must be reversed, Sinn Féin spokesperson on agriculture Matt Carthy has said.
Calls have been made for the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to take urgent steps to ensure that agricultural students have access to state support schemes being provided to other students.
Agricultural students are currently unable to access financial supports such as the Student Hardship Fund and the COVID-19 support payment.
Introduced under budget 2021 the €50m COVID-19 support fund for third level students is aimed at compensating students for the upheaval they have experienced this year due to the pandemic. It is estimated that around 20,000 students will qualify for the €250 one-off payment.
Exclusion
Teagasc agricultural colleges fall under the remit of the Department of Agriculture, while all available student support schemes are managed by the Department of Higher Education, leading to agricultural students being excluded from the supports.
Carthy said: “Students at Teagasc colleges face the same challenges as all other students. They deserve the same level of support. Weeks have passed since Minister McConalogue indicated to me that he was considering this matter.
“I will not be letting this rest, the Minister needs to act now to ensure that students in our agricultural colleges have access to both the Student Hardship Fund on a permanent basis, and the COVID-19 payment.”
Making the case
In response to the parliamentary question Minister McConalogue said he is acutely conscious of the importance of supporting students during this difficult period.
“My Department is currently making the case for the inclusion of Teagasc in the €50m fund announced by the Department of Further and Higher Education to provide financial assistance to third level students,” he said.
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The exclusion of agricultural students from vital financial supports is unacceptable and must be reversed, Sinn Féin spokesperson on agriculture Matt Carthy has said.
Calls have been made for the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to take urgent steps to ensure that agricultural students have access to state support schemes being provided to other students.
Agricultural students are currently unable to access financial supports such as the Student Hardship Fund and the COVID-19 support payment.
Introduced under budget 2021 the €50m COVID-19 support fund for third level students is aimed at compensating students for the upheaval they have experienced this year due to the pandemic. It is estimated that around 20,000 students will qualify for the €250 one-off payment.
Exclusion
Teagasc agricultural colleges fall under the remit of the Department of Agriculture, while all available student support schemes are managed by the Department of Higher Education, leading to agricultural students being excluded from the supports.
Carthy said: “Students at Teagasc colleges face the same challenges as all other students. They deserve the same level of support. Weeks have passed since Minister McConalogue indicated to me that he was considering this matter.
“I will not be letting this rest, the Minister needs to act now to ensure that students in our agricultural colleges have access to both the Student Hardship Fund on a permanent basis, and the COVID-19 payment.”
Making the case
In response to the parliamentary question Minister McConalogue said he is acutely conscious of the importance of supporting students during this difficult period.
“My Department is currently making the case for the inclusion of Teagasc in the €50m fund announced by the Department of Further and Higher Education to provide financial assistance to third level students,” he said.
Read more
Classroom initiative to reconnect children with farming
Teagasc announces Walsh scholars of the year
Minister urged to end exclusion of 6,000 ag students
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